nse mcnns, and knew as well what means to use. He never thought that these would bring the man to see outwardly, but they would help him to see inwnrdly. They ~er,.cd best to strengthen his faith and give due publicity to the miracle. He could not go to and return from Siloam without attracting attention. Jesus caused every movement t-0 serve some useful purpose; thus the man began at once to manifest the works of God. ( 4) The faithful use of the proscribed means answered the ultimate end of Divine mercy and human want. The man's faith was strong and prompt. He was not promised his sight, only told what so do; the rest he inferred. He believed and obeyed, and the Divine energy came with the obedience. He washed, and came seeing. He was born first blind, he was born now seeing, and some saw the Divine glory flashing from his eyes. LEsso~s. 1. There are full compensations for all evil in the Divine economy. If there is misery, there is Divine mercy. If some arc born blind, their blindness will answer some benevolent purpose. There is One born to help and give sight. Evil must ultimately serve goodness, and misery must glorify mercy. Divine compensations are seen now, but to a greater extent hereafter. 2. The fact of human sin and muery u not for curious speculation but for practical sympathy. The life of Christ was one of benevolent a.ctivity rather than of idle speculation and theory. What right-minded man, when a house is on fire, will st-0p to know its cause before doing all in his power to put it out ? Rather than idly inquiring into the origin and mystery of human evil and misery, by every possible effort let sin be destroyed, and misery and sorrow be alienated, and with and after the effort will come satisfaction, and ultimately full light. 8. God answers better than we ask. Our requests may be idle and wrong, but the answers are right and Divine. Still let us ask, and our mistakes will be rectified in the Divine answers. We are glad that the disciples asked respecting the man's blindness. The full reply is found in Christ's miracle of Divine mercy and might. 4. The humblest means are 'IUlt to be despi.sed if prescribed by (Jhrut. From the human side Divine mC&Ds are apparently ,ery inadequate, and even contemptible. The spittle and clay and washing in tbe pool of Siloam for Jesus and the blind man were very humble· beginnings, but led to a glorious result. Faithful use of divinely prescribed means were the channel through which Divine energy came to the man which resulted in his Eight, and through the same channel of faith and obedience Divine illumination will ever come to the sonl.-B. T.
Vers. 29--84.-.A noble defen(IJ. Notice- L A ll.AllVELLOOB IGNORANCE. "Why herein is a marvellous tbing,n etc. Their ignorance of the origin and history of J esUll was marvellous considered in reference to the persons themselves. Ignorant: (a) While they really knew so much. 'l'he stJ.m of their general religious knowledge must be considerable. (b) While they professed and were 11t1pposed to know so much. They professed to know all about the Divine communica- tions to Moses; professed to know the less, but profonndly ignorant with regard to the greater. (c) While they ought to know so much. From their religious training and position as the religious leaders of the people, they ought to know much. Their ignorance was marl'ellous when considered in relation to the case before them, very marvellous indeed in the light of the following considerations so lucidly and cogently brought under their notice by the man that was blind. 1. The testimony of the miracle. (1) 'l'he miracle was an unquestionable fact. .AB proved by the man himself, by his parents, by his neighbours; and the genuineness of the miracle was admitted by the council (2) It was an unquestionable fact, unquestionably involving the exercise of IJivine power. This was generally admitted. Admitted by the opponents themselves, •• Give glory to God." (3) The Divine power was unquestionably exercised by Christ. "He opened mine eyes." This connects him most intimately with the Source of Divine power, if it does not point to him as that Source. 2. The usual way of Goifs impar~ tation of his Divine power. (1) It was imparted in answer to prayer. '!'his was the law by which God's extraordinary power was imparted to the prophets and seers of old. In answer to prayer. (2) It was imparted only in amwer to the prayer of t~e devotional and obedient. Notorious sinners are not in the habit of prayer, and their prayers as 1BUch would not be answered. If they prayed so as to be anRwered, they would cease to be notorious sinners. "God heareth not sinners : but if any man be the worshipper," cm. rx. 1-41.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 29